Gasquet, Paire to meet in Montpellier final

9 February 2013 20:38

France's Richard Gasquet will take on compatriot Benoit Paire in the final of the Open Sud de France after both won their semi-finals on Saturday.

Gasquet, the third seed in Montpellier, prevailed over Finland's Jarkko Nieminen 6-3 3-6 6-2 in one-and-a-half hours.

The world number 10 has made an excellent start to 2013, and has a 13-1 record – with his only defeat coming in the fourth round of the Australian Open to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

He had already defeated Gael Monfils and Julien Benneteau en route to the semi-finals, and he broke Nieminen five times to three to book his spot in the decider.

His opponent will be world number 43 Paire, the eighth seed, who overcame another Frenchman, Michael Llodra, 4-6 6-3 6-1 in Saturday's other semi.

Paire sent down 17 aces in the win, and broke his opponent's serve four times in the match, which lasted one hour and 32 minutes.

Sunday's final will be the first time Paire and Gasquet have played.